The Precursor
March 2002
The Newsletter of the Cincinnati Society
of the General Church of the New Jerusalem
The Dawn of Springtime
SPRING WILL SOON BE IN THE AIR! The nights are getting shorter. Soon the days will be getting warmer. Once again we will witness around us the miracle of growth. Spring is not a purely natural phenomenon, for when we see green things beginning to grow once more, we are witnessing the effects of the spiritual sun. During springtime, heaven, and life from the Lord Himself, can be seen all around us.
Now the Lord of course is with us every instant throughout the entire year. In springtime, though, we see, perhaps more manifestly than at any other time of the year, an image of heaven itself. In heaven it is always springtime, and in the growing warmth of an earthly springtime we see reflected the wonder of the Lord's love, and the peace of heaven itself.
When the angels look at the sun of heaven, it is seen at a middle altitude, at an elevation of about 45 degrees (DLW 104). If it were lower than this they would lack sufficient warmth from the Lord. If it were higher, they would have more heat than light (DLW 105). It is this balance of heat and light, the "reception of love and wisdom in equal measure," which is the "very angelic state" (DLW 102).
Think of a bitterly cold winter's day. There may be light, but the lack of warmth can make the very spirit feel low. On a very hot summer's day there may be plenty of warmth, but it can be too hot to think clearly. In springtime, though, there is this balance, an equal measure of warmth and light, and in this we see pictured the peace of heaven.
Spiritual spring is a state of peace. It is a state of peace because the angels are looking to the Lord. They don't turn to one side or the other, distorting their reception of Him by ignoring either the warmth of His love or the light of His wisdom. They look directly towards Him, and are governed by Him in all things. His love and His wisdom cause all things of their life to glow with warmth and to sparkle with light.
On a beautiful spring day everything somehow feels happier and looks brighter. This is a reflection of the way it is in heaven:
. . . [peace] is the inmost, and hence the universally reigning thing, in each and all things in heaven; for peace in heaven is like spring on earth, or like the dawn, which does not affect us by sensible changes, but by a universal pleasantness that flows into everything that is perceived, and fills with this pleasantness not only the perception itself but also the several objects. . . . (AC 5662)
Thus it is when we look to the Lord: when we look to Him, and follow Him in heart and mind, nothing that we do or think can be unaffected by Him. He is the source of all that is good and all that is true. This is why the pleasantness of spring is "universal," that is, enters into everything.
Similar things are said about the dawn -- a time of day filled with beauty and peace. Both dawn, which follows night, and spring, which follows winter, correspond to the turning of man's spirit to the Lord Himself.
The dawn and the spring cause all things that meet the senses to be full of joy and gladness; every object draws an affection from the general one of the dawn and of the springtime. So it is with the state of peace in the Lord's kingdom: in the state of peace all celestial and spiritual things are as it were in their morning or springtide flower and smile, that is, in their happiness itself. So does the state of peace affect everything, for the Lord is peace itself. (AC 1726)
This is why the Lord rose in the morning in springtime (cf. AC 2405:7). He had conquered the hells, and now the Divine truth of His Human was fully united to the Divine love of the Father or soul within Himself. In His glorified Divine Human He was and forever will be the Divine love itself in human form. He is the One and Only source of all that is good and true. This is why, when He appeared to His disciples, He greeted them with peace. "Peace be unto you" (Jn. 20:19). Then He said, once more, "Peace be unto you" (Jn. 20:21). These words are "the Divine salutation" (AR 12). The Lord appeared to them as the source of all heavenly peace.
With the resurrection of the Lord from the sepulchre, and with the glorification of His Human, all could now turn to Him, and receive from Him the warmth and light of heaven itself.
The springtime of heaven had come to earth.
____________
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, all events are at the church building. If you are scheduled for a specific job and are unable to be there, please could you find a substitute, and, if possible, notify the pastor in advance. Thank you.
Please note that with Easter falling on March 31, there will be three services in the Sanctuary this month, so that we can have a full service on Easter Sunday. The second class of the month will be an Easter class and will be held over the Easter weekend.
Sun. Mar. 3 Lay service or Informal service with visiting minister. 11:00am. Meeting room. Leader: To be decided.
Sat. Mar. 9 General Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: "Love." Suggested reading: TCR 43 [True Christian Religion].
Sun. Mar. 10 Regular service. 11:00am. Usher: To be decided. Sunday School: To be decided. Sunday School Subject: To be decided. Flowers: To be decided.
Mon. Mar. 11 Swedenborg Reading Group. 7:30 pm. Books and Co. 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering, Ohio. Contact Jane Blair, (937) 859-4466, or the bookstore, at (937) 298-6540.
Tues. Mar. 12 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible.
Sat. Mar. 16 Homeopathic Study Group. 10:00am. Meeting room. Privately sponsored event. All welcome.
Sun. Mar. 17 Lay service. 11:00am. Meeting room. Lay Leader: To be decided. Indianapolis Service. 11am.
Sun. Mar. 23 NO CLASS TONIGHT.
Sun. Mar. 24 Regular service. 11:00am. Usher: To be decided. Sunday School: To be decided. Sunday School Subject: To be decided. Flowers: To be decided.
Mon. Mar. 25 Swedenborg Reading Group. 7:30 pm. Books and Co. 350 E. Stroop Road, Kettering, Ohio. Contact Jane Blair, (937) 859-4466, or the bookstore, at (937) 298-6540.
Tues. Mar. 26 Reading Discussion Group. 7:30pm. Bring along a Bible.
Wed. Mar. 27 Trustees. 7:30pm.
Sat. Mar. 30 Easter Doctrinal Class. 7:30pm. Subject: "He Emptied His Soul." Suggested reading: TCR 104-105 [True Christian Religion].
Sun. Mar. 31 Easter Day Festival Service. Floral Procession. Holy Supper. Usher: To be decided. Sunday School: To be decided. Sunday School Subject: To be decided. Flowers: To be decided. Recitation: Liturgy: 113 p. 202.
____________
Our Sympathies
We extend to Karen Delue our sympathies. Her nephew, Justin Zuber, died suddenly on Feb. 18th. Though we know that Justin is now beginning his life in a wonderful new world, our hearts and prayers go out to his family and relatives at this terribly hard time.
____________
